Lumber-drier



. 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. 0. SMITH.

LUMBER DRIER- No. 286,234. Patented Oct. ,9, 1883.

' ATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2:

(No Model.)

J. 0. SMITH.

. LUMBER DRIER.

Patentedv Oct. 9,. 1883..

WITNESSES ATTORN EY N. PCTERS. mwmm w. wma m 0.1:

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

JOHN UWEN SMITH, OF JAMISON, ALABAMA.

LUMBER-DRlER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 286,234, dated October 9, 1883. Application filed May 1d, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN OWEN SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at J ami son, in the county of Chilton and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lumber-Drying Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in an apparatus for dry ing and seasoning lumber; and it has for its object to equalize the action of the drying or seasoning agent upon the lumber, in order that every portion thereof shall be equally acted upon, whereby checking, warping, and distorting of the lumber will be avoided, and the whole uniformly and equally dried.

WVith this end in view my invention consists, first, in means for creating a continuous draft of air through the apparatus from end to end; second, in means to reversethe direction of the draft; third, in means to regulate the passage through which the air or draft travels, whereby it is directed through the spaces between the load; and, fourth, in means for raising the temperature in the apparatus.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and on which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 represents a longitudinal verti cal sectional view of my improved apparatus, showing the internal devices in side elevation; Fig. 2, a horizontal sectional view on the lineac as of Fig. 1, showing the tracks and the heatingpipe in plan view; Fig. 3, a detached elevation of the clamps and the packing through whichthe sliding doors pass; Fig. 4, an end elevation of the apparatus with a portion of the door broken away, showing the internal arrangement of the lumber upon the trucks; Fig. 5, a view showing a portion of the side of the apparatus and of the edge of one of the end doors and the means for keeping the same closed, and Fig. 6 aside view of one of the depending diaphragms.

The letter A indicates the structure constituting the walls of my improved apparatus,

the same being preferably of rectangular form,

and constructed of wood in any suitable manner, the lower portion of which is dividedinto several compartments, A, by means of transverse partitions A NVithin thesecompartments is located a steam heating-pipe, B,which is constructed, preferably, of metal, and in the present instance is of serpentine form, so as to present a greater heating-surface. To one end of the pipe is connected a steam-pipe, B,which communicates with a suitable steam-generator, the other end of the heating-pipe B being preferably left open, so as to exhaust into the air.

Located longitudinally in the apparatus, immediately above the heating-pipe B, are the tracks E the same being supported in any convenient manner.

Each end'of the apparatus is provided with a hinged door, C, which is adapted to close the ends thereof, hooks or other fastening devices, C, being employed for this purpose. One or both of said doors are provided with apertures 0"", and with sliding valves D, by which the draft and the heat in the apparatus are regulated.

Located at suitable intervals are sliding doors D, which travel in ways I)", secured within the apparatus, one near the bottom thereof and the other to the ceiling. The position of these doors is such as to divide the upper portion of the apparatus into several distinct though com municating compartments, E, the object of which will hereinafter appear. These doors extend through the side walls of the apparatus, and in order to form a tight joint I provide the exterior, preferably,

-with the clamps E, consisting of two strips of wood pivoted near their upper ends to the wall of the apparatus, and adapted to be forced together by the screw-bolt and nut, or other suitable devices, at their lower ends. These clamps are provided with a packing, E between the adjacent faces of which the sliding doors are fitted.

Located at any suitable point, but preferably on the roof of the apparatus, is a co1nbined exhaust and blowing fan, F, the mouth of which is connected with a draftpipe, F, which extends to near one end of the apparatus. Connected to that end of the said pipe is an elbow, F, the same consisting of two sections, adapted to fit telescopically one within the other, the lower of which sections communicates with the interior of the apparatus, as seen in Fig. 1. 7

Connected with the exhaust and blowing fan, preferably at the sides thereof, is a suction-pipe, ,G, one end of which is connected with the opposite end of the apparatus by means of another elbow, F constructed in the same manner as the elbow above described. vBythis means the pipe G is put into communication with the interior of the apparatus. The object of the blower and its connectingpipes is to create a draft through the apparatus from end to end, as indicated by the arrows drawn in full lines in Fig. 1, the pipe G and its connecting-elbow acting as an exhaust- I conduit, through which the exhaust and blowing fan F acts to exhaust the air from one end of the apparatus, the pipe F. and the elbow acting as a conduit, through which the air thus exhausted from one end is forced into the opposite. end of the apparatus.

In some instances I contemplateemploying an independent set of pipes and an exhaust and blowing fan connected therewith, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, so as to, reverse the direction of the current. Then this is done,

the upper sections of the elbows F are removed from the pipes F and G and placed upon the substitutes shown in dotted lines, the telescopic construction of said elbows admitting of their elongation, so as to be capable of proper adjustment with the said supplemental pipes.

Adapted to travel upon the tracks B are 1 r the axes of their shafts, cleats or strips being interposed between the several pieces of lumber, in order to form small draft-passages, one ot the elbowsbeing disengaged from its door 0 by sliding the upper section of such elbow outwardlybymeans oi'thetelescopic connection with its pipe. until its lower section clears the door, and by swinging the same out of the way the door is raised, and the cars or trucks are successively run into the apparatus. Steam is then allowed to enter the pipe B, the heat from which raises the temperature within the apparatus, the mean temperature being from 130.

to 150 Fahrenheit, it being desirable not to exceed the latter, as an excess has a tendency to warp and injure the lumber, the temperature being regulated by opening and closing the sliding valve D, which may be supplied with a thermometer, if desired. The exhaust and blowing fan F is then put into motion and a suction created at one end of the apparatus,

the air so exhausted being received by the said exhaust and blowing fan and forced through the pipe F and the elbow F into the opposite end of the apparatus, whereby a simultaneous exhaust and influx action is carried on at the respective ends of the apparatus, which results in creating a strong draft or current of air longitudinally therethrough and a slight upward suction from the heating-pipe.

As already observed,the lumber is so placed upon the trueksas to form spaces through. which the current thus created rapldly passes.

The diaphragms G and the partitions A serve to cutoff all communication below the, trucks between the compartments E E at the bottom of the apparatus, so that the only passage for the air is through the spaces between the lumber.

The doors D can be reeiprocated in their ways in and out'of the apparatus, so as to ad just the size of the draft-passage, and to prevent premature action of theair on the ends of the lumber, whereby checking 1S prevented.

Having thus fully described my invention,

, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is e 1. In an apparatus for drying and seasoning lumb.er,the combination, with the main structure thereof, constituting an inclosed chamber, of a combined exhaust and blowing fan,

. its communicating pipes connecting it with the opposite ends of the chamber, and the doors within the chamber capable of extending between the ends of the respective cars, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for drying and seasoning lumber, the combination, with the main structure thereof, constituting an inclosed chamber, of the tracks running 'therethrough, an exhaust and blowing fan,having a suction-pipe connected therewith and with one end of the chamber by a telescopic elbow, and a forcepipe connecting the fan by a telescopic elbow with the other end of the chamber, whereby a continuous current of air from end to end of the chamber is produced and maintained, substantially as described.

3. I11 an apparatus for/drying and seasoning lumb.er,the combination, with the main structure thereof, constituting an inclosed chamber, of the heating-pipe located-in the lower part thereof, the tracks situated above said pipe, the exhaust and blowing fan, and the suction and force pipes connecting it with the .endsof the chamber by means of telescopic elbows, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus for drying and seasoning lumber, the combination, with the mam frame thereof, constituting an inclosed chamber, an

exhaust and blowing fan, its suction and force pipes,v of the sliding doors for regulating the size ofthe draft-passage, and the heating-pipe located within the chamber, substantially as shown and described.

5. In an apparatus for drying and seasoning lumber, the combination ,with the main structure thereof, constituting an inclosed chamber, and provided with means for creating a simultaneous exhaust and influx of air, with transverse partitions and means for regulating the size of the draft-passage, of the trucks provided with depending diaphragms, whereby the current of air is directed through the spaces between the load, of lumber, substantially as shown and described.

6. I11 an apparatus for drying and seasoning lumber, the combination,with the main structure thereof, constituting an inclosed chamber, and provided with steam heating-pipes, transverse partitions, and sliding doors, of the exhaust fan and blower, its suction and force pipes, and their connecting-elbows, substantially as shown and described.

7. In an apparatus for drying and seasoning lumber, the combination, with the main structure thereof, constituting an inclosed chamber, of the tracks, the transverse partitions, the sliding doors, their packing and clamps, and the trucks provided with depending diaphragms, for the purpose-set forth.

8. In an apparatus for drying and seasoning ]umber,the combination, with the main structure thereof, constituting an inclosed chamber, and provided with the heating-pipe and the tracks, of the combined exhaust and blow ing fan, adapted to be rotated in opposite di reef-ions, and its exhaust and force pipes con;

necting the one with the mouth and the other with the side, and adapted to act vice versa, respectively, and connected with the opposite ends of the chamber by telescopic elbows, whereby a draft may be created from end to end of the apparatus in either direction, substantially as shown and described.

9. In an apparatus for drying and seasoning lumber, the combination,with the main structure thereof, constituting an inclosed chamber, of a combined exhaust and blowing fan, its pipes connecting it with the ends of the chamber, the independent set of pipes, and the exhaust and blowing fan connected therewith, arranged to reverse the direction of the aircurrent through the apparatus, and the telescopic elbows capable of connecting either set JOHN OXVE'N SMITH.

Vitnesscs:

MORTON TOULMIN, 'R. D. 0. SMITH. 

